Sippy cup cleaning method &amp; device

ABSTRACT

A cleaning instrument for cleaning an aperture of a lid of a sippy cup includes a handle and a tip attached to an end of the handle, wherein said tip is compound tapered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/668,480, entitled “SIPPY CUP CLEANING METHOD & DEVICE” filed Apr. 5, 2005 by Thomas Scott Runyan, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally related to a method for cleaning sippy cups.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Being a father of four children, I've had a lot of dealings with the dilemma of finding a way to clean the tips of the sipper cup lids. My wife always complained about the build up of milk and juice residue in the tips of the sipper cup lids. There has to be an easier way to clean these tight tapered areas.

The brushes that I have sent illustrations of will do the trick. These brushes will get in the tight tolerance areas that need to be cleaned. It will eliminate the threat of bacteria build-up.

Manufacturers of these products have different designs on how these sipper cup lids are successful. Tupperware®, for example, has a square tapered tip with a small slot at the end of the tip for the milk/juice to exit. Gerber®, ANSA® and other manufacturers have a round port that goes into a taper, with holes in the tip for the sipper cup lids. The two designs of tips on page 1 of my illustration will clean these tips and eliminate the possibility of bacteria build up. I recommend some type of abrasive brush, such as nylon bristle or sponge wrapped in nylon casing to successfully remove such build up. Although regular sponge and a cotton fiber tips would be effective also, these tips could be used as a finish swipe after the abrasive tips break up the build up.

The product on page 2 of my illustrations would eliminate the need to fill the sink with soapy water and the use of a dishwasher. Simply fill the shaft of the product with soap and screw in the tip best suited for your needs and also only running water enough to get rid of soap residue.

These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the nylon bristle and/or sponge.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the front end view of the embodiment of the nylon bristle and/or sponge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the side view of the embodiment of the nylon bristle and/or sponge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the end view of the embodiment of the nylon bristle and/or sponge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of another embodiment of a nylon bristle brush and/or sponge of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an end view of the nylon bristle brush and/or sponge of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the side view of the nylon bristle brush and/or sponge of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the top view of the rubber or plastic grip of the round hollow shaft of the nylon bristle brush and/or sponge of FIG. 5

FIG. 9 is a diagram of the tapered sponge and/or bristle brush of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This type brush will have a non-removable tip very simply, very effective. This will work great if you have the same type sipper cups. Again, different variety tips will be available for the type of sipper cups you have.

These two styles of tips would do most of nook-and-cranny-type cleaning needed to clean most sipper cup lids.

Brushes, made of sponge, nylon bristle, cotton fiber, sponge wrapped in nylon mesh casing.

These are some of the manufacturers who market in my area:

-   -   Tupperware®     -   Baby's First Years®     -   Gerber®     -   Little Suzy's Munchkin Health Flow®     -   ANSA®

Different manufactures of sipper cup lids have different size tapers. There will be a variety of tapered end sizes and shapes to cover the different tapers. Also, there will be spindle-type brushes for sipper cups that have perforated holes to clean at the end of tapered tip.

The radius tapered tip shown would also be available for the type of application. My observation indicates the tapered square corner another radial tapered tip would be the most commonly used tips. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaning instrument for cleaning an aperture of a lid of a sippy cup, comprising: a handle; and a tip attached to an end of the handle, wherein said tip is compound tapered. 